Oklahoma: Oil Rig Explodes in 100-Foot Flames
In Oklahoma, a massive blast occurred last night at an oil drilling rig. Witnesses said flames rose 100 feet high. No one was reported injured, but several homes were evacuated. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, the companies responsible for the 2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill have agreed to pay $44 million for the cleanup costs and the damage done to the environment, including the death of thousands of birds.
Chinese Protesters Shut Down Solar Factory Accused of Dumping Toxic Waste
China has shut down a solar factory following a three-day protest by some 500 villagers who accused the factory operators of dumping toxic waste near their homes. Pollution from the site was also blamed for the deaths of large numbers of fish in a nearby river. Li Ang is a climate and energy campaigner with Greenpeace.
Radioactive Rice Discovered Near Stricken Nuclear Plant
In news from Japan, concern is growing over the nation’s food supply after the discovery of radioactive rice. Japanese officials say the contamination level of the rice far exceeded a government-set level for a pre-harvested crop. The rice was found in the city of Nihonmatsu, located 35 miles west of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.